No Money to Cultivate Immortality? - Chapter 835 (Patreon)

Chapter 835: An Outsourcing-Friendly Leader

Listening to Feng Tingting’s reply, a flicker of realization flashed through Tu Mu’s mind. “So Deputy Chairman Zhang likes immortal crystals?”

“That’s easy enough.”

After thanking Feng Tingting, he hurriedly began ordering immortal crystals through the Spiritual Realm.

Just then, Feng Tingting sent Tu Mu another friend recommendation: Yan Qianji.

Feng Tingting said, “If you want to donate immortal crystals to the immortal grotto-heaven, you can contact him.”

Looking at yet another outsourced cultivator’s profile picture, Tu Mu could not help sighing inwardly. “I’ve added more outsourced friends today than I have in the past ten years.”

Although Tu Mu also had a habit of disregarding outsourced staff, through his brief contact today, he could tell that Zhang Yu liked putting outsourced cultivators in important positions.

“Is it because he came from the lower realm?”

Since this capable superior liked favoring outsourced staff, Tu Mu was also willing to go along with him, placing equal importance on outsourced cultivators so he could close the distance between himself and his leader.

And so, very soon, Tu Mu contacted Yan Qianji. Following the other party’s instructions, he went to the coordinates of a certain Cave Heaven Bridge and personally delivered the batch of immortal crystals he had ordered into the immortal grotto-heaven.

Tu Mu followed the Cave Heaven Bridge forward. In the next instant, light and shadow flashed, and he had already arrived inside the immortal grotto-heaven.

At the same time, he saw a vast spread of immortal crystals casually placed on an empty lot not far away. The outsourced cultivator named Yan Qianji was carefully counting, inspecting, and storing those immortal crystals one by one.

“Those guys move fast…”

Thinking that he was already not the first person to deliver immortal crystals, Tu Mu’s figure flashed as he sped up. Streaks of Divine Light swept up the immortal crystals and sent them forward.

As for Yan Qianji’s work of counting them, Tu Mu was not surprised. After all, immortal crystals varied in quality and purity, and their value differed greatly. Once received, they naturally had to be counted one by one before it could be known how much each person had given.

By comparison, immortal crystals were already considered easy to appraise. Tu Mu knew that some major leaders received gifts that were far more numerous and far more miscellaneous, all kinds of things mixed together. Some even had to maintain a dedicated gift-receiving team to appraise, manage… and handle every gift they received.

But no matter what, Tu Mu knew that for the outsourced cultivator before him to count immortal crystals for Zhang Yu, he had to be relatively trusted. This made Tu Mu feel even more deeply that Zhang Yu was that rare sort of leader… an outsourcing-friendly leader.

He thought to himself, “After I go back, I’ll have the bureau learn from this. Everyone’s transparency toward outsourced staff will be adjusted back into the normal range.”

On the other side, Yan Qianji saw Tu Mu and the immortal crystals he had brought over, and said, “Director Tu Mu, just put the immortal crystals here. I’ll handle the registration properly.”

Tu Mu, however, sounded him out. “Young friend, who else sent these immortal crystals over?”

Yan Qianji said, “There was Director Zhao from the Land Administration Bureau, Director Sun from the Public Security Bureau, Director Zheng from the Road-Clearing Bureau, General Manager Zhou from Jianye Company…”

Tu Mu’s mind stirred. The Land Administration Bureau planned land parcels, the Public Security Bureau demolished illegal buildings and inspected construction sites, the Road-Clearing Bureau was responsible for road cleaning, environmental sanitation, and garbage transport, while Jianye Company managed the specific construction units… All of these were, like Tu Mu, leaders of subordinate units under Zhang Yu’s charge.

“If everyone is giving immortal crystals, how am I supposed to stand out?”

Tu Mu could not help thinking of his own background and the lineage that supported him. He wondered whether he could use that to build a connection.

He asked, “I haven’t been able to contact Deputy Chairman Zhang at all. I wonder if I could meet him?”

This was also one major reason Tu Mu had given the gift. He wanted to use this chance to meet Zhang Yu and at least restore their friend relationship in his contact list.

Yan Qianji said, “Of course, that’s no problem. But there are some details I need to inform you of in advance, lest you violate Deputy Chairman Zhang’s taboos.”

Tu Mu was naturally all ears.

Yan Qianji said, “Deputy Chairman Zhang specifically instructed that no one should talk connections with him. As far as I know, Director Sun from the Public Security Bureau previously relied on his status as someone from the Myriad Laws Sect and tried to talk seniority with Deputy Chairman Zhang. He was thrown straight out.”

Tu Mu’s heart trembled. He thought, “Looks like I’ll have to keep stuffing money in…”

Yan Qianji continued, “Deputy Chairman Zhang said that no one is allowed to stuff money into his hands. Whoever does that is harming him. Director Zhao from the Land Administration Bureau previously hid immortal coins among the immortal crystals, and Deputy Chairman Zhang drove him out of the immortal grotto-heaven.”

Tu Mu’s heart sank when he heard this. “Even that won’t work? Could he want Dual Cultivation?”

Thinking of this, Tu Mu could not help sensing toward his Yang Artifact, wondering if he should prepare several more models.

But Yan Qianji said, “Also, don’t think about trying to shoot your way upward socially. Director Zheng from the Road-Clearing Bureau hid her Yin Artifact among the immortal crystals and sent it over. Deputy Chairman Zhang directly tossed it out, then lowered a projection and gave her a foul scolding.”

Listening to this account, Tu Mu felt completely helpless.

“Why does our Deputy Chairman refuse to follow the usual rules?”

Tu Mu knew that although the culture of an entire sect was determined by its highest level, the personal style of certain leaders who held real power could determine the culture within a local area.

At this moment, listening to Yan Qianji’s string of warnings, Tu Mu thought, “This won’t do, that won’t do. Could it be that I have to…”

He thought of Zhang Yu being praised as a Kunxu hero, which proved he had no ordinary background.

Then he thought of Zhang Yu obtaining an immortal inheritance and rapidly expanding his own power, which represented that he possessed both strength and ability.

Originally, Tu Mu had thought that Zhang Yu would at most muddle along in the position of deputy chairman. But now, he could see that Zhang Yu seemed capable of standing firm in this position, and from the looks of it, he also had ambition…

“If I follow him, perhaps I’ll have a chance to gain more benefits, maybe even advance further. But it’s also possible… that I’ll fail along with him.”

“Should I gamble?”

…

“Dad!” Looking at Zhang Yu before him, Tu Mu knelt on the ground and said, “I want to give birth to sons for you, then pay you child support every month and owe you money for the rest of my life.”

Tu Mu had still decided to stick close to Zhang Yu first. At least he could share a little more of the development zone’s profits alongside Zhang Yu before thinking about what came after.

As Zhang Yu looked at Tu Mu kneeling before him, he felt so exasperated he almost laughed.

But he understood that this was simply Kunxu’s culture. In comparison, his own demands were what seemed a little abnormal.

Zhanxian said, “Ever since the matter of the Taizhen Immortal Clan temporarily ended, a great many people have been watching you. It is better to remain careful and cautious. When it comes to accepting benefits, others can do it casually, but with you, someone might seize on it and make an issue of it.”

Zhang Yu could not help saying inwardly, “No, wait. Are you reminding me again because you’re worried I might actually agree to let this Tu Mu have children?”

The Exam Sect avatar cut in, “This proposal is actually quite good. To bear children for the sect and serve the sect is the duty of our generation.”

Zhanxian said, “People’s minds change. After climbing in Kunxu for long enough, it is hard to say one won’t be influenced. I am also reminding you at all times because I hope you remain vigilant.”

Fu Ji hurriedly said, “What nonsense are you all talking about? I watched him climb up from the first layer. I believe Zhang Yu will not change.”

Zhang Yu did not continue paying attention to the voices in his mind. Instead, he looked at Tu Mu and said, “Don’t bring up these things again in the future. If you want to get closer to me, then work properly and do your part for the immortals and the sect.”

A flash of disappointment crossed Tu Mu’s face. He lowered his head and said, “I will definitely work seriously and not disappoint my leader’s expectations.”

Zhang Yu continued, “What I need right now are subordinates with sufficiently powerful combat strength. You… can you fight?”

Tu Mu almost thought he had heard wrong.

Could he fight? How many years had it been since he last heard this kind of requirement? Since when had a superior leader’s standard for selecting subordinates become whether they could fight? Shouldn’t it be a contest of background, gift-giving, and money-making ability? At the very least, it should be a contest of work ability. Since when was being able to fight the requirement?

But Tu Mu still hurriedly said, “What I’m best at is combat.”

Zhang Yu said mildly, “Then let’s test it.”

With that, Zhang Yu struck out with a palm, and a surge of Grotto-Heaven Power swept toward Tu Mu.

A moment later, Tu Mu left the immortal grotto-heaven covered in dust. He thought to himself, “Deputy Chairman Zhang seems pretty satisfied with me?”

On the other side, Zhang Yu was recalling Tu Mu’s demonstrated combat strength in his mind. He thought, “Not bad. Among the Divine Transformation cultivators under me, he counts as the one who can fight the best.”

“When we deal with the Void-Refining corpse units next, I can arrange for him to stand at the front.”

…

While Zhang Yu carried out one action after another, successively subduing subordinates and managing each cleanup team…

Deep within the Spiritual Realm, Deputy Chairwoman Xie Lanyin, whose mind was immersed in a vast amount of information… frowned slightly.

At this moment, she was communicating with high-level cultivators from various sects to complete the work of attracting investment to the development zone while also reading the latest intelligence concerning Zhang Yu.

“Zhang Yu… really is a restless fellow.”

“Is he unwilling to safely serve as a mascot and instead wants to interfere in the affairs of the Old Days Graveyard development zone?”

Regarding Zhang Yu’s behavior, all kinds of vigilance immediately rose in Xie Lanyin’s heart.

“As expected, this time, Myriad Laws wants to use the opportunity to stretch its hand into the Old Days Graveyard, doesn’t it?”

When Zhang Yu became deputy chairman, Xie Lanyin had already formed this conjecture in her heart. But she had originally thought that Zhang Yu’s cultivation was insufficient and his ability lacking, so he should be unable to bring this matter about.

She had even felt that Myriad Laws sending in someone with inadequate strength like this was probably a compromise produced by the mutual struggles of the major sects.

Xie Lanyin had not expected that with just a moment of inattention, Zhang Yu had already gathered a force within the Administrative Committee.

“An immortal inheritance really can’t be underestimated.”

In Xie Lanyin’s view, the reason Zhang Yu, a mere Divine Transformation cultivator, could accomplish these things ultimately came down to the immortal inheritance from Ying Xintian.

“Myriad Laws wants to stretch its hand in…” As thoughts surged through Xie Lanyin’s mind, she had already completed communication with the other two deputy chairmen.

“Then we can only cut off Zhang Yu, this hand they’ve stretched in.”

…

Inside a certain grotto-heaven of the Myriad Laws Immortal Clan.

Bu Yuangui looked at the message that had appeared before him and said to Bu Yingshu beside him, “Zhang Yu is doing well. He’s drawing in his subordinates faster than I expected.”

“Donating immortal crystals to the immortal grotto-heaven also shows full sect character.”

Bu Yingshu snorted coldly in her heart and said nothing.

At this moment, she was extremely angry, because Zhang Yu was one of her people. Yet aside from contacting her when he came out of the special case team, in all these days since taking office as deputy chairman of the Administrative Committee, he had not once taken the initiative to contact her.

“Stinking pet. You became a deputy chairman, just a tiny little post, and you’ve already forgotten who your owner is?”

Bu Yuangui continued, “And he can use the power of the immortal inheritance to quickly bring the various search teams under unified management. From that, it can be seen that although Zhang Yu came from the lower realm, he isn’t one of those old-school cultivators who only knows how to cultivate to death.”

Bu Yingshu knew what Bu Yuangui meant by old-school cultivators. He meant the ancient kind of cultivator who only knew cultivation and knew nothing about cultivating forces or developing power. In the past, for a very long period, cultivators of this kind had made up a considerable portion of the cultivator population, because cultivating with such single-minded devotion was simply more efficient and faster.

But as Immortal Dao technology continuously developed and improved, more and more exceptionally talented cultivators were able to maintain full-speed cultivation advancement while still dividing their energy to do other things. They could build forces and expand power, and this type of cultivator could obtain even more Immortal Dao resources.

And so, as competition in Kunxu became more and more intense, gradually… cultivators who only knew how to cultivate were eliminated. Only cultivators who were all-rounders in every aspect could continue climbing upward.

Bu Yuangui looked toward Bu Yingshu beside him and said, “Yingshu, your eye for people is still very accurate. This Zhang Yu really is a talent.”

Bu Yingshu said confidently, “Of course.”

Inwardly, she sighed. “Unfortunately, Dad, your eye for people is a little poor. You failed to see me, this genius who was nearly buried, and you’d never guess my true identity as the Great Sage’s Heir.”

Bu Yuangui continued, “But what Zhang Yu is doing now can only be said to mean that he has temporarily gained a firm foothold in the Administrative Committee.”

“Those above placed him in this position ultimately because they want him to produce some achievements.”

“But what counts as achievement? Building up the Old Days Graveyard properly?”

Bu Yuangui shook his head. “In the end, he has to bring benefits to Myriad Laws. Yingshu, you should go find Zhang Yu.”

Bu Yingshu frowned. “I should take the initiative to find him?”

Bu Yuangui said, “What the higher-ups hope Zhang Yu will do is, nine times out of ten, interfere in the Old Days Graveyard industries related to corpse units and Soul Cultivators.”

“In this regard, compared to the other sects, our Myriad Laws Sect has indeed always been at a disadvantage. Not only do we gain fewer benefits, our influence over the related lineages is also smaller.”

“If we can use the opportunity of the Old Days Graveyard’s reconstruction to get involved, that would be a very good thing that benefits the sect and the immortals.”

Bu Yuangui looked seriously at Bu Yingshu and said, “Yingshu, I know that you have always been the most ambitious young person in the clan, and that you have always wanted to accomplish something great. Isn’t this a good opportunity?”

“Placing a piece in the Old Days Graveyard can increase the sect’s influence in the corpse unit and Soul Cultivator-related industries, as well as over the related lineages. And the Soul Cultivator industry there can also lay groundwork for our clan’s development of the Demon Saint’s group-consciousness technology…”

Bu Yuangui patted Bu Yingshu on the shoulder and said, “Yingshu, the revitalization of our clan and the construction of the sect all depend on you.”

…

“Bring benefits to Myriad Laws?”

Zhang Yu looked at the various information about the Administrative Committee that had appeared before him and thought, “Throughout the entire Administrative Committee, from top to bottom, there are very few people who belong to Myriad Laws.”

“And my own strength is not powerful enough within the Administrative Committee either.”

“This… doesn’t it feel similar to the current situation of the immortal networks Ying Xintian introduced to me, those immortals who want moderate reform, in Kunxu?”

Zhanxian listened to Zhang Yu’s thoughts and said, “Throwing us into this position to temper us may be preparation for future reform.”

Zhang Yu nodded. In his mind, the words the giant corpse had spoken surfaced.

“Those old fellows placed you here, which is equivalent to giving you an exam paper.”

“As for how this exam paper will be graded…”

“If you can stand firm in the position of deputy chairman, that counts as passing.”

“If you can lay groundwork for Myriad Laws and help Myriad Laws insert itself into the Old Days Graveyard’s related industries, that counts as excellent.”

“But only if, in the course of doing things, you conform to the reformist faction’s ideals will this be considered a perfect answer for those immortal networks.”

Just as Zhang Yu was thinking, a message appeared before his eyes.

Seeing the message’s contents, a faint smile immediately appeared on Zhang Yu’s previously serious face. “Ah-Zhen is coming?”

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